Companion Door Storage, Need Your Ideas

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by thedudeistoocool

Not sure how much space you have on that port aft bulkhead - behind the nav station I think. But if you turned it on it's side could you make a bracket on that bulkhead that could hold the door ? or is it called a drop board ? and then it would just slide into the bracket with a little latch to secure it when on port tack ?

if it would be too tight you wouldn't be able to fit - although you could just make Fred do all the plotting

just my $.0125 cents worth

Do you mean where my back goes when sitting on the nav station? That wall?

It can go there, but Giulietta might not like it, she gave me a hard time when I hang my flash light!!

You don't know what its like to be married to an European woman with taste!!

However, that is a great idea. Let me think and talk to her.

[jackytdunaway]

One way i am able to keep the wife from filling the boat full of crap like the house is to use the safety rule. The boat is uncluttered and will remain that way for safety sake. use the same rule here. Cut in 2 pieces so it can be stored in a safe place and you won't have the large door flying around in rough seas or have to move a big door out of the way in case of an emergency.

[Giulietta]

Jacky...

I can have another door, in 2 pieces fabricated, its easy and cheap.

I don't like stuff lying around the boat either, specially inside, and it was a big efforet I made during construction to create enough spaces to put stuff away...I have enormous storage spaces (just none is big enough for that door), and my wife (owner of 50% of my boat), doesn't want the boat that much for sailing...she wants so we can have vacation, and when we do, house keeping is a must, she hates things hanging in the walls, really!!

I think the second door might be it....but so far, I have 2 possible solutions:

1) The drawer
2) 2 piece door, that once we get out of cruising stays at home.

More please...

[Giulietta]

Tommy, Marc...you were there...help with this will you??

You remeber the door don't you???

[tommyt]

Alex,

I was just about to respond. This is the first I have seen this thread.

I remember the door, and it is large. I would measure the hatch in the cockpit, which I also remember as big. I think that Tomaz had the same idea. If it would fit in the recess of that hatch, it would be heavy to lift but out of the way of the raft. If it does not fit there I think that you will need to have oner made in two pieces that can be stored easier. I like the one piece, but space is a problem. You have designed something into almost everywhere.

[thedudeistoocool]

I say go with the two piece option if you can
My first suggestion although practical would be plain ugly and not something you would really want to do on such a nice boat

How tough is the plexi the door is made out of ? Could you by chance cut that piece in half horizontally and then use some sort of " H " shaped gasket at the joint for the top and bottom pieces to slip into to maintain a watertight seal

This would give you two pieces half that size to stow and still not be too horrific to look at when they are actually installed in the companionway

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by thedudeistoocool

Could you by chance cut that piece in half horizontally and then use some sort of " H " shaped gasket at the joint for the top and bottom pieces to slip into to maintain a watertight seal

Cooldude..

Pretty much all my previous boats had 2 halves, it was a bad arrangment. I tried all types of "sealing" arrangment and it did not work.


The best solution for the 2 halves door was when I had doors made like shown bellow, where they would match each other.

I sail in a a lot of places where in the marina, sometimes for weeks at a row, the stern is facing the wind. This means "sideways" rain, dust and wind get inside and make a mess. Besides its easier for the French to enter...

I opted for a one piece door for several reasons...I did not think it would piss me off that much.

I rather not go with the 2 piece door.

[Faster]

Gui

Does your cockpit locker have space to build a pocket for the dropboard so that it hangs vertical (along the cockpit wall) and only takes up it's width? You could make it out of Sunbrella and snap it in place. Store the dropbaord like a letter in an envelope.

This would be perhaps easier to do with a 2 piece door - not so deep a pocket (but a bit wider)

Your issue with dust/rain etc and a 2 piece dropboard could be solved with a Sunbrella snap-on cover for the companionway. Put a screen in it too and you have insect protection when needed.

[thedudeistoocool]

Good lord man why on earth would you want it easy for the French to enter ?
The only two things I like about the french are Sophie Marceau and Julie Delpy

OK here's my 3rd and final solution suggestion
Wash your hands of the problem and give the boat to me

[Giulietta]

Faster.

The cockpit door, is slightly less wide than the companion way door. Besides, it is a slightly heavy door with the teak. My wife and the kids use the boat a lot, and for them its hard to open that cockpit floor door, you need to remove all the lines, clear the space, bend over and open it...and sometimes, Fred drops it..so anything hanging inside the cockpit locker door would not last long....and practicality...when we sleep at night, you have to go out, fetch the companion door...etc...see my point. I like the bag idea, light and simple, and I could hang it on the wall inside, near the fire extinguisher..good idea, thanks.

That locker was designed to stow the spi and mains sails (stored in sausage bags) when racing so they come out of the sausages staright into the cabin top, ready for fast hoisting. I use it as storage for fenders and tables and vacation stuff when cruising.

As for the sunbrell its a good idea, but now I am a slave of the door, one more thing top attach...

Who would think something that simple would be such a problem??